As most gamers find out about using miniatures, the second most expensive part of the hobby is paints. Of course, if you only buy painted figures, it must be nice. Lets start with the beginning,

PRIMER:

This is a must if you want your paint to stick to your figure. The place I found with the least expensive spray primer is at your local K-mart store. Check in the paint section and look for a white label can called "Fresh and Easy". I know the name is kind of funny but at 99 cents for a 12 oz. can, you can't beat the price. I have seen primers from gaming manufactures at the same size for $6-7! The paint comes in white, gray, and black with the colors matching the can's top. Although they also come in glossy, I do not recommend that you use them. I found that the paint will sometimes spray a heavy layer so try to stand a little further back when you spray so that the paint won't hide any details and you can always go over it again when it dries. If you are unsure, try it on a single figure before you use it on your army or favorite figures.

For the gamer who is painting the French army one-to-one or the poor gamer, this is one way to save money. Remember, the money you save, means you can buy more lead. Next issue I will talk about other sources for paints and brushes.